Tray construction



June 9, 1964 F. MUCKLER 3,136,443

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June 9, 1964 F. MucKLER 3,135,443

TRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1961 2 Plas M 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2INVENTOR. 5 ffm/ Maa/me June 9, 1964 F. MUCKLER TRAY CONSTRUCTION FiledMarch 29, 1961 3. Sheets-Sheet .'5

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United States Patent O 3,136,443 TRAY CONSTRUCTION Frank Muckler,Sappington, Mo., assigner to Seco Company, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,104 3 Claims.(Cl. 220-19) This invention relates to improvements in the constructionof trays or the like for handling food serving equipment, such asplates, cups, saucers and utensils, in connection with substantially allof the commercial washing and drying machines.

There are a large number of washing and drying machines available tothose who operate establishments for the mass feeding of people. Thesemachines have different construciton features for general or specialservice so that the accessory items, such as trays of the present type,will not fit all machines so as to be universally adaptable. Therefore,it is a problem for those who handle the distribution and sale of thetray accessories to know how to keep a balance of stock inventory, andgenerally there is no convenient solution so an excessive stock must bemaintained.

On the other hand, the inventory problem of the distributor may besubstantially solved by having a standard tray structure for thearticles to be handled therein and to provide only so much of theassembly that needs to be changed in the character of replaceableattachments.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide animproved tray construction having its major components arranged in astandardized assembly which will adapt itself to the reception of avariety of replaceable attachments of simple construction, whereby theoverall assembly can be given the greatest range of utility to meet theneeds of the users.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved trayconstruction which has novel structural characteristics to permit itsuse interchangeably with present trays so that there will be a minimumof obsolescence and this new and improved construction will easilyintermingle with the older constructions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel structure for atray of the foregoing character in which the assembly of parts andelements substantially overcomes the dangers of loose parts damaging thewashers and similar apparatus.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a novel trayconstructionhaving means incorporated therein to permit the easy andrapid interchangeability of attachments for adapting the same tosubstantially all of the dishwashing machines in service so that certaineconomies of use can be achieved.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in the course of thefollowing description relating to the preferred forms of the inventionchosen for disclosure herein, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. l isv an elevational view of the improved tray constructionembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 isa top plan view of the construction shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken at line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 2 andillustrating the tray with one form of attachment suitable for certaintypes of washing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the method ofassemblying the attachment to the tray;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the attachment shown in FIG. 4;

ICC

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged and fragmentray sectional view of theattachment securing means seen at line 7-7 in FIG. l;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the tray construction equipped with a dilferentform of attachment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the attachment shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. l0 is a plan view, partly broken away, of another form of trayconstruction which is arranged with corner stacking means of a characterto permit its intermingling with trays of the form shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. ll is a fragmentary perspective View of the trays of FIG. l0arranged in stacked positions kto illustrate that feature.

In the drawings one preferred' tray construction has been illustrated inFIGS. l to 4 and 8, and another form has been illustrated in FIGS. l0and l1. Throughout the several views of the drawings there has beenillustrated different forms of attachments which are interchangeablyadaptable to the tray constructions shown. Throughout the drawings,however, certain features of construction remain consistent so that oncethe broad principles of the invention have become known it will not benecessary to repeat description of details alreadyv set forth, wherebypresentation of the disclosure can be simplified. Since reference hasbeen made to attachments for the improved tray constructions, it will besuicient to point out that in the useage of the industry the attachmentsare generally referred to as index stripsand these terms will beunderstood and used in that context, but without limitation to otherterminology which may be equally apt.

In FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the vtray construction embodies a base frame 12formed of an angle member having a vertical portion 13 anda horizontalportion 14. The angle member is bent into a generally rectangular shapeand the ends are suitably joined in end abutment, welded and then groundoff so that the joint is practically unnoticeable. Each of the cornersis formed with an.inwardly opening notch 15 by cutting away suitablesections of the horizontal portion 14. Adjacent the notches areelongated slots or openings 15a.

The base frame'12 serves as a rigid support for a basket or frameassembly 16 composed :of circumferential wires and vertical ties. Thecircumferential wires. consist of one or more (two being shown) rimwires 17, a plurality of spaced intermediate wires 18, and a base Wire19.

These several Wires which have the ,rectangular shape of the base frame12 are secured in assembly by a plurality of vertical tie wires whichhave upper ends 20 in a closed loop tov provide spaced legs 21 extendingdownwardly and i terminating in projections 22 which are extended belowthe circumferential base wire 19. The vertical ties positioned adjacentthe respective corners of the basket assembly differ in the respect thatthe upper `closed loop 20a thereof extends a distance above the rimwires 17 to form a projection. The legs 21a of these corner ties divergeand terminate in projections 22a. The several wires of the basketassembly are secured at the places where the circumferential wires crossthe vertical wires, thereby providing a strong net-work. The resultingbasket or frame assembly is positioned uponthe base frame and the baseWire 19 locates the .twovframes in desired positions so that the severalprojections 22 and 22a may besecured to the inner surface of thevertical portion 13:Y of the base frame 12. These two frames areintended lto remain securely connected and comprise the principal partsof the standard tray assembly.

The tray assembly further embodies a wire floor frame 23 positionedwithin'the basket frame 16 and spaced above the horizontal portions 14of the base frame. The oor frame 23 consists of closed loops of wires 24and 25, the loop 24 having its major length running at right angles toatea/r4.3

3 Y the major length of loop so that at the points of crossover 26 asecure connection can be made. Each loop is attached to the leg wires ofthe vertical ties at the places of contact. In addition the oor frame 23has centrally disposed cross-over wires 27 which are connected at theends to one of the loops (as 24) and are fixed in the plane of the otherloop (as 25). Thus, the floor frame 23 is formed in such manner thatthere are no free ends to'become bent or fall down below the base framewhere they might catch in the washing apparatus, conveyors and otherequipment.

It may now be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 that the assembly of the variousframes 12, 16 and 23 provides a rigid and light-weight tray having aspace therein below the plane of the floor frame 23 and within the planeof the horizontal portions 14 of the Vbase frame 12. Such space is openfrom below the tray iioor frame 23 and is adapted to receive any of theseveral forms of attachments or index strips. One such index strip S isshown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and consists in a pair of main rod-like members4i) carrying a plurality of spaced cross members 41. The strip S alsoincludes other longitudinal members 42 which overlie the main members 40and the ends ofthe cross membes 41, but are shorter than the mainmembers. The end portions 40a of the main members are joggled so thatthe central span thereof assumes a generally symmetrical form inrelation to the other members 42. With certain machines the index stripS is inserted in the tray with the mainmembers 40 underneath, and inother machines it is (reversed.

The interchangeable application of attachments or index strips isaccomplished by providing the base frame 12 with a series of aperturesin each of at least onepair of opposite vertical portions 13 of the baseframe 12. Upon reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, 'it can be seen that thevertical portion 13 of FIG. 1 is opposite the portion 13 in FIG. 3. Eachportion 13 is formed with a central pair of apertures 43 in axialalignment across the width of the base. Similarly, pairs of apertures 44to the left (FIG. 1) and apertures 45 to the right of the central pair43 are provided. Thus six apertures are formed in each of the oppositeportions 13 of the base frame, although any other desired number may becalled for.

Considering FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the index strip S is assembled to the trayfrom the opening in the base frame 12 and below the tioor frame 23. Theoperation is performed by passing the end portions 40a (FIG. 5) at theright side through the apertures 43 until the end portions 40a at theleft clear the horizontal portion 14 and can be raised to allow theystrip S to be shifted leftward. The portions 40a at both ends ofthestrip S eventually will assume aligned relation with the respectiveapertures 43 so that screw elements (FIGS. 4 and 4'7) may be inserted tosuspend the strip between the vertical portions 13 of the base frame 12.This mounting places the portions 13 under inward pull when the screwelements are tightened, and similarly the threads are loaded in theaxial direction to increase the friction thereon so that there issubstantially no serious loosening effort in service. The strip S maybeattached in either the position of FIG. 4, wherein the main rods areoutermost, or in a reversed position in which the shorter members 42 areoutermost.

It is observed in FIG. 8 that the tray construction is similar to thatdisclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3, insofar as the base v frame 12, basket frame16 and ioor frame 23 is concerned, and like parts are indicated by likereference numerals. The assembly of FIG. 8 illustrates a modiiiedattachment in the form of a pair of side index strips SS. One such-striphas been shown in FIG. 9. These strips are right hand and left handparts, but generally comprise a straight rod 31 and a rod 32 havingjoggled end portions 32acooperating with end portions 31a of thestraight rod; These rods carry a Vplurality of crossk elements 33 whichare arranged in groups, although any other ar- Y rangement may be used.The strips SS are inserted and 4 secured to the base frame 12 in themanner described in connection with and 'illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 and l1, the tray construction illustratedfollows the general principles heretofore described. The dilierence isthat instead of having two stacking projections 20a (FIGS. 1 and 2), oneat each side of the corner notch 15, the tray is modified to have astacking projection 34 in the notch area. The projection 34 is providedby securing a bent rod or wire at the corner so its legs 34a cross thecircumferential rods 17, 1S and 19 at each side of the corner. Thus, instacking the trays the corner projection 34 of the lower tray tits intothe notch 15 of the upper tray so that a column of trays is interlockedand has a stable attitude. Of course, the side projections 20a (FIGS. land 2) tit into the side slots 15a to interlock the stack.

In FIG. 10, the tray is provided with an alternate attachment or indexstrip CS which embodies spaced central rods 35 which engage the baseframe 12 at the apertures 43 l(FIG. 3) and side rods 36 which engage theinnermost one ofthe apertures 44 at the left and apertures 45 at theright. 'Ihe respective rods 35 and 36 are retained by screw elementssimilar to the one shown at 30 in FIG. 7. The index strip CS is providedwith a plurality of spaced across rods or wires 37 arranged in groupsadjacent each end of the longitudinally directed rods 35 and 36. Themanner of assembly of the index strip CS is illustrated in FIG. 5 inconnection with the index strip S.

The foregoing description has set forth the principles of the'inventionin connection with certain preferred embodiments. It is understood thatchanges and modications may be made therein or will be suggested fromthis disclosure, and all such changes and modifications are to beincluded inthe scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a tray for Vinterchangeable adaption to various washer apparatusupon change of index strip means, the improvement which comprises: anassembly of a rectangular base frame and a rectangular basket permaJnently xed together to form said tray, said base including an anglemember extending about the rectangular perimeter of said tray and havinga flange extending inwardly relative to such perimeter, said anglemember having apertures in opposite sides of the rectangular perimeter,and said basket including a plurality of rst wire elements extendingabout the perimeter of said tray and second wire elements xed to saidrstwire elements and forming a oor frame spaced above the plane of theinwardly extending ange on said base, said oor frame and said anglemember forming a shallow space in the tray which is open from below saidfloor frame, said apertures opening into said shallow space in spacedrelation above said inwardly extending flange and below said iloorframe; index strip means for said tray selectively and removablypositionable in thershallow space between said inwardly extending ilangeon said base and said floor frame, said index strip means including mainstructural members having opposite ends formed with threaded sockets andsized to iit into said apertures; and threaded securing elementsextending through said apertures in said angle member and de tachablyengaged in said threaded sockets to suspend said main structural membersof the index strip means in opposite sides of the rectangular perimeter.

V2. The tray according to claim l in which said indexmembers may belifted clear of said inwardly extending flange and into said shallowspace, said strip means further being movable toWard the opposite onesof said apertures to align the threaded sockets thereof with saidapertures.

3. The tray according to claim 1 in which said threaded securingelements have enlarged heads engaging with said base angle member and,during threading into said threaded sockets of said main structuralmembers, causing relative yielding of opposite sides of said rectangularperimeter to stress said base angle member and provide a reactiontension loading on said threaded securing elements to frictionallyretain them in said threaded sockets of said main structural members.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A TRAY FOR INTERCHANGEABLE ADAPTION TO VARIOUS WASHER APPARATUSUPON CHANGE OF INDEX STRIP MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: ANASSEMBLY OF A RECTANGULAR BASE FRAME AND A RECTANGULAR BASKETPERMANENTLY FIXED TOGETHER TO FORM SAID TRAY, SAID BASE INCLUDING ANANGLE MEMBER EXTENDING ABOUT THE RECTANGULAR PERIMETER OF SAID TRAY ANDHAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY RELATIVE TO SUCH PERIMETER, SAIDANGLE MEMBER HAVING APERTURES IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE RECTANGULARPERIMETER, AND SAID BASKET INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF FIRST WIRE ELEMENTSEXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIMETER OF SAID TRAY AND SECOND WIRE ELEMENTSFIXED TO SAID FIRST WIRE ELEMENTS AND FORMING A FLOOR FRAME SPACED ABOVETHE PLANE OF THE INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE ON SAID BASE, SAID FLOORFRAME AND SAID ANGLE MEMBER FORMING A SHALLOW SPACE IN THE TRAY WHICH ISOPEN FROM BELOW SAID FLOOR FRAME, SAID APERTURES OPENING INTO SAIDSHOLLOW SPACE IN SPACED RELATION ABOVE SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGEAND BELOW SAID FLOOR FRAME; INDEX STRIP MEANS FOR SAID TRAY SELECTIVELYAND REMOVABLY POSITIONABLE IN THE SHALLOW SPACE BETWEEN SAID INWARDLYEXTENDING FLANGE ON SAID BASE AND SAID FLOOR FRAME, SAID INDEX STRIPMEANS INCLUDING MAIN STRUCTURAL MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS FORMED WITHTHREADED SOCKETS AND SIZED TO FIT INTO SAID APERTURES; AND THREADEDSECURING ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES IN SAID ANGLE MEMBERAND DETACHABLY ENGAGED IN SAID THREADED SOCKETS TO SUSPEND SAID MAINSTRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF THE INDEX STRIP MEANS IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF THERECTANGULAR PERIMETER.